I hate going out during the day. However, work and errands beckon, so I really don't have a choice! I've been out in the sun for the past four days (!!!) but I'm not too worried since I'm currently testing out a sunblock with SPF130. Yeah. I'm smug.

Anyway, it's too hot and bothersome to wear eyeshadows so I depend heavily on eyeliner and mascara to keep my eyes looking good. After much experimentation, I discovered the best combination to get an absolutely smudge-free eye - it doesn't matter how long I was out or how much I sweat and oil up. This combo is deadly. I've been to Tagaytay, Batangas, Marikina, and all over Manila with these two products on and they've never failed me.

Ready?

I'm always hovering in department stores in the hopes of scoring something great, something other people may have missed. Last Tuesday, I hit gold! I visited the department store at Market! Market! to buy nail polish when I spotted this awe-inspiring, crazy cheap powder brush right across the nail polish aisle:

It was incredibly soft, had shiny hair, had the right density and - best thing EVER - it only cost me P119! I've been mooning over a high-quality powder brush from Suqqu since I saw Lisa Eldridge use one in a video. But since Suqqu is not available here and I probably can't afford it, I'm happy that I found a nice alternative. It's not the same shape but guys, you really need to feel how soft this P119 brush is. <3

This brush has fine synthetic hair very similar to the one Ellana uses for their brushes.

Last week, I was asked by Avon to pick one set from their latest jewelry collection. You know that I'm into green at the moment, so I picked their Retro in the City set. It features faux peridot stones that are encased in a goldtone pavé cage inlaid with clear stones. What I like most about the pieces is how big the peridot stones are, effectively making them statement pieces!

Caged Pavé Peridot Ring, P699

Every girl should have a matte blush. It's the best kind to use when you're having your photos taken or if your skin is oily! Used the right way, matte blushes can look more natural than shimmery ones since your skin's natural oils somehow enhance them.

One of the prettiest matte blushes I've come across is the Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek (P795). These blushes are housed in a tin can that's shaped like a sweet macaron, with the same colors to boot. Aside from the packaging, the biggest strength of these Puff de Cheeks are their lovely, flattering shades. Even though Majo is a Japanese brand, it seems like the Sugary Trap Collection is made for warm skin tones like ours. 

What I love about the product

• All four shades look good on me. My favorite has to be Apricot Macaron (OR302), followed by Peach Macaron (PK301). I don't have these shades in my blush collection so I find them unique.
• The powder is well-milled, with a velvety texture. It has a smooth, matte finish that don't sit on the pores.

Hi everyone! Sorry this is late, as I've been thinking long and hard about the prize I'm giving to the second commenter of the month. :D But I'm getting ahead of myself! I'd like to announce the commenter of the month for April.

And she's...Mia Estrella! She's been commenting frequently on my blog since August of last year. I always appreciate her insightful comments. I'll be contacting her for her shipping details so she can get her gift.

Now, for the commenter of the month prize for May!

So lately I'm rather attentive to my nails. I used to be the kind of person who didn't give a damn about nails because, after all, they're just nails! Who cares? I bit my nails a lot and picked on my cuticles (eww and yes, painful). But now I realized that on top of well-manicured nails being a sign of good grooming, nice nails can really uplift one's mood. I feel more cheerful when I'm wearing a color I love, during those moments when I happen to glance at my nails while I type or do a chore.

Shallow, yeah, but I want to be the kind of person who delights and finds wonder in little details like this.

This is my current nail color. I used two shades: the Bobbie Glaize Parasail (P35.50) as the base color and Caress Christmas Polka (P20.75) for the glitters. I love the effect! I keep imagining a small galaxy in my nails, lol. The Bobbie polish I used was just so-so since it applied unevenly but I was really impressed with the Caress one. It dried up quickly and the glitters applied smoothly. Such a steal for P20!

I used the Sally Hansen Hard As Nails as a base polish to keep the colors from chipping.

Are you lazy when it comes to wearing sunblock? Eh, tell me about it. I don't like how I have to blend blend blend just to remove the white cast and how I have to wait at least 20 minutes before the sun protection kicks in. However, thanks to technology, clear sunblock sprays are now available for us lazy daisies.

I got my first bottle of the  Nivea Sun Invisible Protection SPF30 PA++ spray more than a year ago. It became my constant companion during beach trips since it's idiot and lazy-proof to use: just spray and go! I also like using it when it's super EXTRA hot since I can't stand how lotion becomes so sticky when I sweat. Oh, this is also waterproof so it doesn't disappear as you sweat or swim.

Let's run through the pros and cons!

What I love about the product 

• Super easy to use. The spray covers a lot of skin, and there's on need to rub it in to remove the white cast - there is no white cast. The product is a clear liquid.
• The spray works even if you turn the bottle upside down to get to your back and lower legs.

Say hello to my new favorite facial wash - the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap (Oily Skin Formula)! I've been using it everyday, twice a day for the past two weeks and my skin has definitely improved. I am a lot less oily, I don't break out as much, pores are tighter, blackheads don't bother me anymore (!) and my skin is generally smoother. I so, so love this product.

My first experience with a Clinique facial wash was about two years ago. I got samples from an event and was pretty psyched to use it. However, I found it disappointing since it didn't lather (not a fan of washes that don't soap up), made me oilier, plus it also broke me out! So since then I stayed far away from Clinique facial washes, thinking they're all like that.

Well, I was obviously wrong. About a month ago during my first Clinique party, I was talking to Mira (Clinique's Marketing Manager) about my search for a new cleanser.